Cisneros: Hillary Clinton’s only option for VP is Castro

From Staff Reports

Updated
8:09 pm CDT, Saturday, May 16, 2015

Former San Antonio mayor, now Housing and Urban Development Secretary (HUD) Julian Castro, right, is expected to announce his endorsement of Hillary Clinton when she visits San Antonio on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015. Castro is widely expected to be on Clinton’s short list of potential picks for a VP running mate, should she win the nomination. less

Former San Antonio mayor, now Housing and Urban Development Secretary (HUD) Julian Castro, right, is expected to announce his endorsement of Hillary Clinton when she visits San Antonio on Thursday, Oct. 15, ... more

Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais /Associated Press

Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais /Associated Press

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Former San Antonio mayor, now Housing and Urban Development Secretary (HUD) Julian Castro, right, is expected to announce his endorsement of Hillary Clinton when she visits San Antonio on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015. Castro is widely expected to be on Clinton’s short list of potential picks for a VP running mate, should she win the nomination. less

Former San Antonio mayor, now Housing and Urban Development Secretary (HUD) Julian Castro, right, is expected to announce his endorsement of Hillary Clinton when she visits San Antonio on Thursday, Oct. 15, ... more

Cisneros told Univision’s Félix De Bedout that people within the Clinton campaign have told him that Castro, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and former San Antonio mayor, is “the first person on their list.”

Clinton is currently the odds-on favorite to win the Democratic nomination for president.

Cisneros, himself a former San Antonio mayor and HUD secretary under Bill Clinton, made the remarks in response to a question from the Univision newsman who asked if Clinton should have a Hispanic on her presidential ticket.

“What I am hearing in Washington, including from people in Hillary Clinton’s campaign, is that the first person on their lists is Julián Castro,” Cisneros responded. “That they don’t have a second option, because he is the superior candidate considering his record, personality, demeanor and Latin heritage. I think there is a very high possibility that Hillary Clinton may choose Julián Castro.”

If so, Castro would be the first Latino vice presidential pick.

Castro has previously said he’s focused on his job and isn’t thinking about running for vice president or president.

Ever since he moved to D.C. as HUD secretary, Castro has downplayed speculation he could join Clinton in 2016 as her VP candidate.

“I don’t believe that I am going to be vice president, ” he told ABC newsman Jim Avila last October.

And he was emphatic that he had no presidential aspirations as well: “I guarantee you that I am not going to run for president, probably ever.”

Cisneros’ interview on Univsion will air Sunday on the program “Al Punto with Jorge Ramos.”